POTUS

abbreviation or noun

ˈpō-təs 

variants or less commonly Potus

: the president of the United States

—often used like a nickname

The Bushes held their first state dinner. POTUS served buffalo meat, wore cowboy boots and welcomed Clint Eastwood.

—Newsweek

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some other acronyms like POTUS?

The oldest -OTUS ("of the United States") acronym is SCOTUS ("Supreme Court of the United States"), in use since the 1870s. POTUS ("President of the United States") is the second oldest, coming some twenty years after SCOTUS. FLOTUS ("First Lady of the United States") is another, thought to have originated in the 1980s. Less common than these, but still occasionally found, is VPOTUS ("Vice President of the United States").

Is POTUS always capitalized?

The most common form of the word is POTUS, although it is also found as Potus. Less common, and formerly used more frequently in the early 20th century, is potus.

What is the origin of the word POTUS?

POTUS is an acronym created by taking the first letter of each word in "President of the United States." According to our earliest records of its use, it came into being in the 1890s as an abbreviation used by telegraph operators. POTUS was likely based on the slightly older SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States), which had been used by telegraph operators since the 1870s.

Examples of POTUS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both of the Bushes have since passed away, as have Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, leaving President Obama and first lady Michelle, President George W. Bush and first lady Laura, and President Clinton and first lady Hillary as the only living former POTUS couples. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2025

The timing here is simply to align with our new/old POTUS’ second and (hopefully, Constitutionally) final four-year term. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 14 Jan. 2025

Not exactly bosom buddies with Trump during his first term, Zuckerberg banned the 45th POTUS from Facebook for two years the day after the January 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025

In his first foray into prestige TV, the actor plays beloved former U.S. President George Mullen who is called in to help the current POTUS, played by Angela Bassett, after a catastrophic cyberattack threatens the nation. —Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025

Carter’s passing comes nearly two years after the former POTUS entered home hospice care in his hometown of Plains, Ga., a decision made in February 2023 after Carter was admitted to the hospital for several short stays. —Charlie Mason, TVLine, 29 Dec. 2024

The replacement bill, approved by the next POTUS, would have tied government funding to a two-year suspension of the federal debt limit, which determines how much the government can borrow to pay its bills. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024

In an election that could have resulted in the first-ever female POTUS, at a time when women's healthcare and rights hang in the balance, much of the focus instead centered on the preservation of male ego and reinforcing an elevated vision of alpha male to save the nation. —Gemma Allen, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

Her last day comes four days after Donald Trump’s inauguration for a second POTUS term on January 20. —Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above